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To-day's Short Story. JEANNE'S BRAVERY. Felix Larondie bad been a French tireur in the great war of 1870. and I liked nothing better in the evening than to eit and listen to his stories of the terrible time when Franco lay gasping and bleeding. "After Sedan, monsieur, a meeting was called m our village, and 30 of us enrolled ourselves as a company of Francs-tireuxs. We felt we could do more for France as irregu- lars than serving under incompetent generals. We were well .armed, and a brave and skilful old veteran commanded us. As the Germans were in force around Metz, we marched in that direction and made our headquarters in the hills behind a village called Pency, about three leagues from the fortress. It was in Pency Jeanne lived, and from the first moment I saw her, monsieur, I said to myself, 'If fortune is kind, Felix, that girl shall be your wife.' Her father, was the miller of Pency, and the accursed Uhlans had almost ruined him. They were very bitter against the invaders, and my profession made me find favour in her eyes. Before we had. been at Pency a month we had plighted our troth, on the understanding that we should not marry until France was rid of the enemy. "Small as our band was, we made our- selves a terror to the marauding Uhlans, thanks to the generalship of old Montbon. Jeanne was invaluable to use. She was all eyes and ears, and Montbon called her the 'head of the intelligence department of our band. 'I used to meet her every evening, when it was possible, in a little cave I had discovered, which, having no outlets, was proof against surprise. "We stayed three months at Pency, and then tho place became too hot for us, and we prepared to leave for a village some leagues to the south. I fell into the hands of the Bavarians the very evening before we were to leave Pency. "Jeanne declares to this day, and I believe rightly, that I was betrayed by a villager, a young fellow named Odeau, who believed the Virgin h £ d intended Jeanne for his wife, and who who was ever savage when she refused him. But be that as it may, monsieur, I was seized at dusk that evening as I was on my way to meet Jeanne, and taken so com- pletely by surprise that I had not the least chance of defending myself or trying to escape, and, worse than all, was taken with the rifle in my hand. 'You are an assaissin,' said the stout little officer in command in barbarous French. 'You shall be shot. Where are your com- panions ?' But I professed not to understand. I was afraid of being shot on the spot. There was much of the oxecutioner and little of the judge in thoee days, monsieur. Much to my relief, my arms were bo-und behind me, and we set out for the hamlet where the Crown Prince Frederick had his headquarters. "As Fortu'ae would have it, Jeanne met us on the road. Monsieur would suppose that! Joanne is a quiet little woman, but monsieur has not seen her thoroughly aroused. She was roused then, monsieur. She flung herself on me and tried to release me. "Then she seized the bayonet of a Bavarian, and, if I had not begged her for my sake to be calm, she would have fought the whole party single-handed. Then she fell to beseeching them, for she could speak Ger- man well; but they only laughed at her and drove her off with foul words. My heart was like lead then, monsieur. But I did not know Jeanne. I was taken before the prince's adjutant, who promised me liberty if I would betray my compatriots. Eut I feigned stupidity, and when he found that I would tell nothing he ordered me to be shot at five the next morning. 'We give you till then,' he said, 'to find your tongue. You'll be dumb enough after.' And he laughed. I was bound like a log, monsieur, and thrown into a hut and brutally kicked. My thoughts were not pleasant all this time. I lay thinking of Jeanne, whom I should never see again, picturing that, womanlike, she would go home and weep in her helplessness and despair. But I did not know her then. She was working for mo witih all the energy and wit of a woman. Jœnne, Jeanne, ma petite, come here." Jeanne came to the door. Come and tell monsieur how you saved me, ma petite." A blush overspread Jeanne's features. What, that foolish story again ?" "Certainly not ioolish," I interposed. "I should deem it a kindness if you would oblige me." If monsieur wishes it, and monsieur will allow me, I will get my knitting. "Certainly," I said. "When I saw him carried off," Jeanne )egan as soon as she was seated, "I was in ieapair, for I knew what his fate would be. And then the good Virgin put an idea into my head, and I prayed to her to give me the strength and cunning to carry it out. There had been a sharp fight a week before, and I knew Jacques Pellot had possessed ilf of some German uniforms that he lad taken from the dead. So I demanded them from him, and threatened him till he produced them. A sous lieutenant's uniform dtted me nicely, and after cutting off my hair And concealing a pistol and dagger in my tunic, I hurried away. I crept along cautiously when I ncared the enemy's lines, for my plan was to get through the sentries without being challenged. When I heard the pickets I dropped on the ground and crawled like a snake. And yet I was nearly caught. A German officer was leaning against a tree, and I almost touched him. I lay still, without breathing audibly for a long time, how long I cannot say-until he moved away. Then, once inside the lines, I rose up and hastened to the prince's head- quarters. I prayed for courage, and then walked up to the door. I trembled eo that I could hardly speak. Fortunately, the officer did not observe my agitation.' 'Take me to his highnese instantly,' I Mid, in my beet German. Important dispatches. 'Who from?' he began. To his highness, instantly,' I said boldly, but my knees shook under me. Ho looked at me closely in the dim light, and I felt ready to faint. Then, without a word, he took me to the prince's room. 'Im- portant dispatches,' he said, knocking and showing me in. 'From whom?' asked the prince. In private, may it please your high- 1 stammered, but feeling that I would not leave without Felix3 life or another for it. Retire and leave us, Haupt,' said the ipricce, and the officer, closing the door behind him, obeyed. "'And now,' gaid the prince, kindly; 'yon look pale and ill. sir. What is your name?' The key was in the door, and I turned it swiftly. 'And now,' I said, pulling out my P,Lst^1 and pointing ? full at his fo3(my hand did not even tremble at that supreme moment—' your highness,' I said rapidly, if you can out you are a dead man.' "Ah, he was a German, but he was so brave! He did not even wince, but he looked straight into my eyes and smiled. 'Ah,' he said lightly, '8, stratagem! Who are you. and. what do you "'Monsieur le I said. 'I am the daughter of the miller of Pency. My lover, Felix Laronclie, was taken by your men night as a Francs-tireur. If he is not already dead, he is condemned. I want his life or you ioee yours, monsieur.' "'A woman!' he said. 'Well done,' and he smiled, and the pistol almost dropped from my hand with the pity of it till I thought of Felix. 'I know nothing of this, my good woman. No, but stay. Here are some papers Elberfield has left for me to sign. Ah, here it is. Felix Ijarondie, peasant, taken with arms. To be shot at five a.m.' 'He shall not die, your highness, or'—I could not. threaten him with words, but my pistol was steady. 'But he i" .an assassin.' I cried: 'he is a soldier, though he does not wear the uniform. Imagine, your bighneas,' I said, 'if I should have dared so much for a murderer.' 'But he has fought as a Francs-tireur, not as a. soldier.' 'What of that, monsieur? And if he had not fought for France in her hour, I would spurn him from me. He must go free, your highness, if you value your life.' 'My life is in the hands of God, made- moiselle,' he said, lifting his eyes to mine. Threats do not move me, but you are a brave woman. "And then my courage left me, monsieur, and I dropped the pistol and flung myself sobbing at his feet-, and beseeched and entreated him. And he raised me, monsieur, and made me drink wine and tell him all the story. Ah! but he was a brave and a true gentleman! And when I had told him all he said, He shall be pardoned,' adding with a smile, Such a devoted woman, must not go husband less.' And then I fell to weeping again, monsieur, and kissed his hand and tried to thank him. And he took me to Felix, and he was released. I flung mygelf on Felix and cut his bonds myself, and we thanked the jrrinoe together. We ■women don't find out if men are worth it till afterwards, monsieur," with a ely look a.t her husband. Three days later an orderley came with a. bracelet from his high- ness, and on it was engraved, To a brave and devoted Frenchwoman.' See, I wear it still.' Ah, monsieur, we wept when that noble prince died, and the great doctor could not lave him. We sent a wreath, and I presumed to write to the empress. She is a. worthy daughter of your queen, monsieur. She sent a. letter written with her own hand. She waa worthy of that true and brave eentle- jmyn jtow towtowsd.

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